(b. 29 July 1928, Sighnaghi – d. 8 July 2010, Tbilisi).

Georgian composer of stage, orchestral, choral, and vocal works that have been performed throughout the world.

Prof. Kvernadze studied composition with Andria Balanchivadze at the Conservatory of Music in Tbilisi, where he graduated in 1953.

Among his honours were the title People's Artist of Georgia (1979), the Zakaria Paliashvili Prize (1981, for My Entreaty, Old Georgian Inscriptions and Vocal–Symphonic Poem) and the Shota Rustaveli State Prize (1985, for And it was in the eighth year). He was later named an honorary citizen of Tbilisi (1995).

He taught composition and instrumentation at the Conservatory of Music in Tbilisi from 1963–2010, where he was Professor of Composition from 1988–2010.

In addition to the works listed below, Prof. Kvernadze composed incidental music and popular songs.

SELECT LIST OF WORKS

STAGE:

Choreographic Stories (ballet in 2 acts, scenario by Zurab Kikaleishvili, Guram Meliva, Chukurtma Gudiashvili, after Lado Gudiashvili), 1964 (one section may be performed separately as a concert work: Seraphita)

Wives and Husbands (operetta in 2 acts, libretto by R. Lezgishvili), 1970

Berikaoba (ballet in 1 act, scenario by Giorgi Alexidze), 1973

And it was in the eighth year (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Jacob of Tsurtavi), 1982

Happier than we (opera in 2 acts, libretto by Robert Sturua, after Ilia Chavchavadze), 1987

ORCHESTRAL:

To the Dawn (symphonic poem), 1953

Concerto No. 1, piano, orchestra, 1955

Concerto, violin, orchestra, 1956

A Fancy Dance, 1959

Symphony No. 1, 1961

Seraphita, 1964 (section of Choreographic Stories; may be performed separately as a concert work)

Concerto No. 2, piano, orchestra, 1966

Expectation, string orchestra, 1968

Ceremonial Overture, 1977

Symphonic Overture, 1984

Symphony No. 2, string orchestra, 1986

CHORAL:

Immortality (cantata, texts by L. Chubabria, Petre Gruzinsky), speaker, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971

Cantata about Georgia (text by Petre Gruzinsky), baritone, mixed chorus, orchestra, 1971

My Entreaty (vocal–symphonic poem, text by Nikoloz Baratashvili), mixed chorus, orchestra, 1974, revised 1977

VOCAL:

Old Georgian Inscriptions (text by Giorgi Leonidze), tenor, orchestra, 1978

Vocal–Symphonic Poem (texts by Eter Tataraidze, folk poems from Georgia), mezzo-soprano, orchestra, 1979

Pray, Child (triptych, text by Iakob Gogebashvili), soprano, piano, 2001, revised 2002